Eagle Day at Pueblo Reservoir

What a beautiful day today turned out to be. After all the snow and terribly cold temps it got to the 50's this afternoon (winds made it chilly, but nothing like the below freezing we have had). Mid-morning was great, with no wind to speak of and above freezing temps. Much snow was melted with both the warmer temps and the chinook (meaning snow eating)winds that drove the increase.

Though the recent bad weather reduced the numbers, there were still around 200 or so people who attened Eagle Day activities. Eagles, at least 7 were spotted today, were fairly cooperative so most were able to view them thru spotting scopes set up for the public. I saw several adult Bald Eagles though not the immature bird that was reported by others.



I was not able to get a photo of any of these eagles as they were too distant for even my 12X digital zoom and I don't have equipment to digiscope. But I did get this photo of a female Bufflehead and other photos I will add to separate posts.

SeEtta

All fluffed up against the cold

We lucked out last night-the arctic front blew through too fast to bring temps down as far as predicted or bring as much snow, only a few inches. And today it was sunny and temps bounced back to around 30. But the temps rose because the wind picked up and that brought a nasty wind chill. I caught this White-crowned Sparrow in a clump of rabbitbrush, all fluffed up to stay warm.


Because the temps didn't get too low last night (and maybe because there were so many waterfowl keeping the water stirred up?), there was still about the same amount of open water on Sell's Lake today. Only a few Canada Geese remained as the flock was likely feeding in some field. And I was relieved that there were no dead waterfowl as I have seen twice in the past several weeks on the ice.

Eagle Day at Pueblo Reservoir is tomorrow. Though it will be awfully cold in the early morning, it is supposed to get close to 40 in the afternoon.

SeEtta